Sonos One

The Sonos One is the first Sonos speaker to have Amazon's Alexa voice assistant built into it, which makes it act just like Amazon Echo speaker -- only it sounds better. This is a Wi-Fi speaker, and sometime in 2018 it will also add Google Assistant and Apple AirPlay 2 support through a software upgrade.

As with earlier Sonos speakers, you can add other Sonos speakers to create a multiroom audio system or a stereo pair.

JBL Flip 4

JBL's Flip 4 is fully waterproof and a little bigger than than the JBL 3. That extra size -- and a new set of drivers inside -- makes a significant difference in sound quality. The speaker also has better battery life than its predecessor.

JBL Xtreme 2

JBL next-generation jumbo Bluetooth speaker offers improved sound and full waterproofing. It'll fill up a dorm with big sound your neighbors may not appreciate and also plays well outside (it comes with a carrying strap for easy transport).

UE Boom 2

The UE Boom 2 is a compact, durable wireless Bluetooth speaker that plays louder than the original Boom and sounds a little better. It's stain-resistant, shock-resistant and now fully waterproof. Battery life is a strong 15 hours, and it can be paired with a second UE speaker for stereo sound.

JBL Clip 3

JBL's Clip speakers have long been among our favorite micro Bluetooth speakers, and the Clip 3, which comes in seven color options, is also a winner.

If you want to save some money, you can pick up the older Clip 2. It doesn't sound quite as good (the Clip 3 plays a little louder and has more bass), but the Clip is still a good little speaker and costs $20 less.

Bose SoundLink Color II

If your priority is sound quality, you're better off with the more expensive Revolve. But if you value portability and don't want to spend the extra money, the SoundLink Color II, which features improved sound over the original, is a solid choice.

While not everybody will love its design, most grads should be impressed with the sound it puts out, particularly in smaller rooms.

B&O Play Beoplay A1

All credit to B&O Play for creating a Bluetooth speaker that doesn't look like anything out there already. The new dome-shaped Beoplay A1 is not only the smallest wireless speaker from the Danish company, but also its most affordable.

With a sleek look courtesy of well-known Danish furniture designer Cecilie Manz, the aluminum-clad A1 delivers relatively high-quality sound for its compact size, has excellent battery life and works well as a speakerphone.

Sonos Play:5 (2015)

The second-generation Sonos Play:5 is a sleek, well-designed Wi-Fi speaker that delivers rich sound for its size, as well as strong bass. It offers the full Sonos wireless experience, controllable from iPhone, iPad and Android apps.

The speaker is compatible with nearly every key music service, including Pandora, Spotify, Tidal, Amazon and Apple Music. It comes in two colors -- white and black -- and can be placed either horizontally or vertically.

Google Home Max

JBL Pulse 3

With the third generation of its Pulse speaker, JBL has once again improved the integrated LED light show, making this flashy Bluetooth speaker a standout product in a crowded market. The Pulse 3 delivers strong sound for its size and you program the light show via a free app for iOS and Android.

Amazon Echo Plus

The Echo Plus looks and acts like the original Echo -- but it's had a major smart-home brain implant and a boost in sound quality. In addition to the Alexa functionality you get in every Echo device, the Echo Plus features an integrated smart-home hub that serves as the conduit between the cloud and all of your smart locks and lights; it comes bundled with a free Philips smart lightbulb.

Before, you needed a separate hub from SmartThings, Wink, or another third party to control the smart-home devices made by companies such as Philips Hue, GE and Kwikset. Now, the Echo Plus, with its built-in ZigBee antenna, will sense, set up and connect these devices automatically.

Amazon Echo Spot

The Echo Spot is Amazon's mashup of the deluxe Show and the entry-level Dot. It combines the Dot's hockey-puck aesthetic and low-power output to the Show's video capabilities, while meeting at about the halfway point on price. Its front-facing camera can be used to make video calls, which can be initiated through the touchscreen or Alexa, and capture intermittent photos or a live feed of video.

UE Roll 2

The waterproof UE Roll 2 plays 15 percent louder than the original Roll, has a longer wireless range of up to 30 meters (about 98 feet), and it ships with a UE Floatie, so you can take it into the pool with you right out of the box. Certain colors of this speaker often go on sale, particularly now that the newer UE Wonderboom has been released.

B&O Play by Bang & Olufsen Beoplay P2

Bang & Olufsen's Beoplay P2 may not be cheap but it is the least expensive model in the company's Bluetooth speaker lineup -- it's also the smallest and lightest. Aside from its swanky design (it really is a great-looking micro speaker) it delivers a good amount of bass and volume for its compact size.

V-Moda Remix

V-Moda's Remix is a compact, premium Bluetooth speaker that also has a built-in headphone amp. Billed as "the world's first 3D-printed custom speaker," all six sides of the Remix can be personalized with optional accessories.

Amazon Echo Dot

The Amazon Echo Dot won a CNET Editors' Choice Award. How could it not? It's just as smart as the Echo, but it costs half as much. And, unlike the Echo, you can use it with whatever speakers you want. That's terrific news both for audiophiles and for people who just want an inexpensive way to give the gift of Alexa.

Amazon Tap

Now in battery-powered form within the portable Amazon Tap, Amazon's digital assistant Alexa is as good as ever. You can play music, command your smart home or add something to your to-do list, all with your voice.

JBL Charge 3

The JBL Charge 3 is a well-designed, fully waterproof portable Bluetooth speaker. It has good battery life and doubles as an external charger for your portable devices. It also has built-in speakerphone capabilities, and plays loudly with strong bass for its size and price class.

B&O Play Beolit 17

If you want to give your student a little something extra special as far as a Bluetooth speaker goes, there's B&O Play's Beolit 17, which offers bigger sound than a lot of these smaller Bluetooth speakers listed. The only downside is its price.